The study of physics provides a foundation in fundamental science and develops skill sets that are highly valued in virtually every profession. The M.A. in physics program prepares students for admission to doctoral programs in physics or closely related fields such as astronomy, biophysics, medical physics, materials science, and engineering. For students who do not intend to pursue a doctorate in physics, the program provides a strong background in problem-solving through the application of physics, mathematics, and quantitative reasoning that can be extremely useful in a variety of professions, including business, finance, law, and medicine, as well as applied physics. For all students, the program also affords an opportunity to gain research experience.

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Standard physics sequence
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This sequence is the traditional course of study intended for students who are likely to continue on to the Ph.D. degree in physics.

Students must complete 22 credits in courses in the Physics Department. The following courses are required: Physics 7210X, 7310X, 7350X, 7410X, and 7710X. In exceptional cases, the graduate physics committee may waive required courses or prerequisites.

With permission of the committee, the remaining credits required for the degree may be in courses in any department.

If they have been completed with a grade of B or higher and have not been counted toward the undergraduate degree, physics courses numbered 4100-4900 in the -Brooklyn College Undergraduate Bulletin corresponding to U600 courses in the City University Graduate Bulletin, or their equivalent, may be offered toward the master's degree.

Students must pass a comprehensive examination or submit a thesis, the choice to be made in consultation with the deputy chairperson. The first doctoral examination of the CUNY Ph.D. program may be substituted for the comprehensive examination. Students who choose to write a thesis must take a course or courses in the series Physics 7110G-7120G. No more than 4 credits in this series may be offered toward the degree. Information about requirements for the comprehensive examination and thesis is in the section "Academic Regulations and Procedures."

Graduate courses in the Physics Department offered toward the degree must be 7000-level courses.

The program of study must be approved by the graduate physics committee.